Turkish doctors are raising the alarm. “Ankara has become Wuhan”



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Source: Dubai – Arabia.net

The Corona virus continues to spread widely in Turkey despite attempts by authorities to deny it, as doctors in Ankara announced that large increases in Covid 19 infections in Ankara are putting pressure on hospitals to the maximum and that authorities Turks must impose a new closure to control the virus.

The government announced this week that the city is currently the epicenter of the Covid-19 outbreak in Turkey, and while authorities have publicly denied the intention to impose the lockdown, officials say privately that further measures may be needed soon.

“Ankara and Wuhan have become another,” said Mustafa Cankurtran, a professor of geriatrics at the Ankara Medical College, referring to the Chinese city where the virus first appeared.

He also wrote on Twitter Wednesday: “A lockdown should be imposed for a period of 10-14 days. Medical capabilities may be overloaded.” She urged the government to open all medical centers, including private health units.

From the center of Ankara - AFPFrom the center of Ankara – AFP

Injuries increased dramatically

In addition, two officials told Reuters that infections in Ankara are increasing at a rate that exceeds expectations and that current measures, including the use of masks and the application of social distancing guidelines, are not achieving the desired results.

“Daily cases are high enough to feel uncomfortable right now, and everyone is starting to see new cases every day in their close circles,” said one official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

He added that “if new measures are not taken, it seems that it will be more difficult to prevent new problems,” and indicated that some measures could be taken “within the city.”

Second climax

In turn, Health Minister Fakhruddin Kuja, who spoke of a “second peak” in Covid-19 cases in Turkey, said that the number of active cases in Ankara this week was double that in Istanbul, which has a population three times that of the capital.

In this regard, Ankara Governor Vasep Sahin told reporters on Friday that he hopes that the upward trend in the number of cases does not require the imposition of stricter measures such as curfews.

“The curfew is a difficult situation, we do not want to impose it. We believe that it is possible to change the course of this (upward) trend in our city without imposing such restrictions,” he said.

The Turkish Medical Workers Association says Ankara’s doctors and other healthcare workers are stressed.

From a hospital in Istanbul - AFPFrom a hospital in Istanbul – AFP

Patients in hospital corridors

For his part, a doctor who deals with Covid-19 cases told Reuters that there are more than 1,000 cases a day at his Ankara hospital, a figure not far from the official national total of about 1,600.

Patients are being treated in hallways and corridors, and doctors are under terrible pressure.

“Ankara is in serious trouble,” said the doctor. “It is really necessary to impose restrictions on the exit (of the houses).” In response to a question about the figures reported by the doctor, the Turkish Ministry of Health stood firm.

The death toll nationwide jumped to the highest level since mid-May, during the implementation of general isolation measures, and 49 deaths were announced Thursday.

Over the weekend, the mayors of Istanbul and Ankara accused the government of underestimating the extent of the epidemic, based on local information.



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